The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-10
THnEs GREAT fAnliLitS.
social Influence of the New York Wander
bIlts. Potters and Fields.

Social Influence of the New York Wander
| bIlts, Potters and Fields.
/ accidentally encountered $500. 00O.-
300 in small jewelry store on Fifth
avenue few days ago. 1t was more
:han 5000, 900, 900, now that l think OF
t, for there were three men in the
group; the Oldest was Mr.. Cornelius
Vanderbilt, who was pale, clerical and
solemn looking, with pleasant express
sion of the eye, and 4 tendency to lean
against posts and show cases. Beside
him stood his brother. William K. Van
derbilt, in the most irreproachable Of
| English clothes, with his mutton-chOp
whiskers brushed back from a weak,
but good-natured face. Between the
two men chatting amiably with them
was DIR. Seward Webb. their brother-in-
law. DR.. Webb is the most popular of
the men who have married into this
family. The three men represented a
vast amount of money. and they all en-
tered the shop together to spend exactly
twenty-five cents for new crystal for
Cornelius watch.
What struck me ut the time as being
most notable was the influence which a
great New York family, like the VAN
derbilts, possess. Take DR.. Seward
Webb, for instance; he was a surgeon
in st. Luke's Hospital when old Mrs.
Vanderbilt took her daughter there one
day on a visit of charity to the sick
The daughter fell in love with the young
surgeon, married him. and, on the death
of William H., DR.. Webb inherited $10,-
900, 900 and an interest in the main pOr-
ton of the estate. He became presi-
dent Of one of the largest downtown
stock firms, was made director in the
wealthiest trust company in the country,
and became identified at once with the
Lincoln Bank and other great institu-
tons. Now he wanders about, the
friend of milliOnaires, the most welcome
Of visitors to the boxes in the Opera
House. and pleasant and agreeable
man about town. He is thick-set, heavy
faced and not ut all distinguished in
appearance, but evidently very good
fellow.
Another of the great families in New
York is just now being talked about
through the death of its head, Bishop
Potter. The Potter family must feel
rather lonely now that it has only one
Bishop left in its ranks. Its first Bishop
was AiOnzO Potter. of Pennsylvania.
He was the father of the late Clarkson
Potter, Howard Potter, the banker. and
Eliphalet Potter, the president of Hobart
College. Howard Potter is the father
of James Brown Potter, whose wife is
studying for the stage.
The second Bishop Bishop Horatie
Potter, Of the diocese of New York, who
died recently ut the advanced age of
eighty-five years. He leaves two daugh-
tiers and one son, who is professor in
a Southern university. a third BishOpis
Henry Goldman Potter, also son of
Bishop Alonzo Potter, and lately the
assistant Bishop of the diocese of New
York. The chances are that President
Potter will be a Bishop before he dies.
He is the handSOmeSt member of the
family, has Il distinguished presence
and is an eloquent speaker. He was
made president of Union College when
only thirty-one years of age, and the diff
culties got into there were probably due
to his youth and inexperience. He is do
ing better as president of Hobart College.
Perhaps the third in Importance in
the great New York families. outside of
the pure commercial aspect, is the Field
family. Indeed it may be said that the
Fields permeate the intellectual and
venturesome fields of American life.
They have everywhere pushed them
selves to the head in great enterprises,
i'll the law, and in education. Every
body knows who David Dudley, Cyrus
w, Mr.. Justice Field and President
Field, of Williams College, are, but be-
sides these four brothers, the sons,
nepheTs and cousins innumerable are
quartered in New York and, of course,
for the influence of the Field
family is enough 10 build up Il man in
any walk of life here. For instance,
Cyrus w. Field. Jr., went into'one of
the most successful brokerage houses in
this city backed by no other capital
than his name.
These are three of New York's great
families, and no matter how poor and
distant Il relation of any one of them
may be, he is sure of success if backed
by the influence of his kinsmen here.
So there is something in family after
j. Cummings and Blakely
Hull, in Phiiadciphia Press.